Symptoms in Women of Blocked Arteries

Heart disease is one of the leading killers of women in the United States. In many cases, heart disease occurs when the arteries in the heart become blocked, so recognizing the symptoms is important.

Identification

• Symptoms of blocked arteries may not become apparent in women until the arteries have become narrow. Common symptoms then include fatigue, vomiting and back ache.

Other Symptoms

• Other symptoms of an arterial blockage can include pain in the arms, neck and jaw, or chest pain.

Significance

• Women tend to experience less chest pain than men with blocked arteries. The symptoms also tend to strike women at an older age than men.

Types

• Women with blocked arteries may also experience angina, which is classified as a strong chest pain that is sudden and crushing.

Warning

• Since cardiac disease is much more common in men, some doctors may have a harder time diagnosing blocked arteries in women and in some cases give less information to women about heart disease than they would give men.